When defending the highest law of the land becomes a punishable offense, silence is not an option.
A sitting judge in Milwaukee, Hannah Dugan, was arrested by federal agents for refusing to let ICE carry out an unconstitutional arrest in her courtroom.
This isn’t some legal gray area. This is a constitutional crisis, clear, present, and accelerating.
But before we get to how dangerous this is for the future of the country, let’s break it down:
WHAT ICE DID:
ICE attempted to detain a man inside a state courtroom using a civil administrative warrant, not a criminal warrant signed by a judge.
That matters. Here’s why:
- Fourth Amendment violation: Administrative warrants don’t authorize entry into protected spaces or arrests without probable cause. Arresting someone inside a courtroom without judicial approval could be an illegal seizure.
- Violation of due process (5th & 14th Amendments): The individual was appearing voluntarily, with legal counsel. Detaining someone in the middle of legal proceedings interferes with access to justice and undermines due process rights.
- Violation of ICE policy: ICE’s own internal guidelines label courthouses as “sensitive locations,” where enforcement actions are discouraged and require supervisory approval. Conducting an arrest without following that protocol is a breach of policy.
- Interference with judicial proceedings: Showing up unannounced, attempting to seize someone under the authority of a non-judicial warrant, disrupts courtroom function and potentially violates court security and decorum standards.
So basically, ICE was operating outside the law, outside the Constitution, and outside their own rules.
WHAT JUDGE DUGAN DID:
Faced with federal agents trying to take someone from her courtroom without a valid judicial warrant, Judge Dugan:
- Questioned their authority
- Referred them to the chief judge
- Allowed the individual to leave after court concluded, through a staff hallway, accompanied by their lawyer
She didn’t hide anyone. She didn’t destroy evidence. She didn’t obstruct justice.
THE JUDGE UPHELD JUSTICE.
Judge Dugan acted to:
- Protect the constitutional rights of the individual before her
- Preserve courtroom integrity
- Uphold the separation of powers by preventing federal overreach into a state judicial proceeding
This is what judges are supposed to do: safeguard due process, not rubber-stamp executive power.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT:
This is where things get chilling.
On April 25, 2025, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI inside her own courthouse. The arrest was carried out under a federal warrant signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The charges? Two federal felonies:
1. Obstructing a federal proceeding
2. Concealing an individual to prevent arrest
By signing the arrest warrant of a sitting state judge acting in her official capacity, Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries just opened the door to a full-blown separation-of-powers crisis.
- Violation of judicial independence: Arresting a judge for their courtroom conduct threatens the foundational separation of powers. Judges must be free to make legal decisions without fear of political or retaliatory arrest.
- Color of law abuse (18 U.S.C. § 242): If federal agents arrested her for exercising her legal authority or in retaliation for a lawful ruling, they may be depriving her of her rights under the color of law.
- Absence of probable cause: If the charges rest on mischaracterizing her actions, like suggesting “harboring” when she merely upheld legal standards, then the arrest may constitute an unlawful seizure.
- Violation of internal DOJ safeguards: Arresting public officials, especially judges, requires heightened oversight to prevent abuse. If that wasn’t followed, the arrest may be procedurally and ethically invalid.
Arresting a judge over courtroom discretion isn’t law enforcement.
It’s intimidation. It’s retaliation. It’s authoritarian.
WELCOME TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
This isn’t about one judge.
It’s not just about immigration.
It’s about the highest law of the land: the Constitution of the United States of America.
And it’s being violated brazenly, repeatedly, and publicly.
The executive branch just sent a message to every judge in America:
You are not independent. You are not protected. You are not safe.
Make a ruling we don’t like, and we’ll put you in handcuffs.
This isn’t law. This is a warning shot.
They are making an example of Judge Dugan, not because she broke the law, but because she upheld it.
If you think separation of powers will shield you from this administration’s wrath, you’re not paying attention.
If you ever claimed to love America,
If you ever swore to defend the Constitution,
If you ever placed your hand over your heart during the pledge or sang the anthem with pride,
This is your moment to prove it.
Because silence now isn’t neutrality.
It’s surrender. It’s complicity.
Call your representatives. Demand an investigation. Speak out. Organize. Protest. Show up.
Because if we let them jail a judge for doing her job,
They will come for the rest of us next.
